Sharjah Legal Forum 2026 opens under patronage of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed
Federal ministers and legal specialists converged in Sharjah for a forum on the interplay between family stability and legal reform, noting the role of legislation, mediation and digital safeguards under the UAE’s Year of Family.
Sharjah Legal Forum stresses balance between legal stability and social change
H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Judicial Council, presided over the opening of the Sharjah Legal Forum 2026 at Al Razi Hall, University of Sharjah. The event, organised by the Legal Department of Sharjah in cooperation with the Judicial Council, drew federal ministers, senior Emirati officials, judges and legal scholars.
Mariam bint Ahmed Al Hammadi, Minister of State and Secretary‑General of the UAE Cabinet, delivered the keynote address, situating the forum within the federal drive to support families. Under directives from President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, 2026 has been designated the “Year of Family,” she noted, and legislation is being aligned to protect family cohesion, childhood welfare and social stability across the UAE.
Speakers underlined that legal drafting must reconcile enduring principles with evolving social, economic and technological realities. The opening panel, titled “Legal Text between Stability and Evolution,” featured Counsellor Dr Obaid Ali Al Ali, Assistant Secretary‑General for Legislative Affairs at the General Secretariat of the UAE Cabinet; Counsellor Dr Ahmed bin Meshar, Secretary‑General of the Supreme Legislative Committee in Dubai; and Counsellor Aisha bin Sufyan Al Suwaidi, Director of the Legal Department of Sharjah. Discussion ranged from the foundations of personal status law in Islamic Sharia to the lifecycle of legislation, from drafting and publication to monitoring and review during implementation.
Counsellor Dr Mansour Mohammed bin Nassar, Chairman of the Legal Department of Sharjah, said the forum reflects a conviction that effective law must be both precisely framed and responsive to social change. Participants emphasised that protections for families and children should remain robust, while judicial processes be made simpler, more accessible and swifter where appropriate.
Later sessions set out a practical agenda: “Societal Values in the Vision of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah” will consider how identity and solidarity can be translated into policy and services; “Legal Alternatives for Resolving Family Disputes: Mediation and Reconciliation” will examine safeguards such as voluntariness, privacy and fairness; and “Digital Challenges and the Future of the Family” will probe risks posed by misleading content, identity theft, blackmail and artificial intelligence, and the role of platforms and institutions in mitigation.
The forum also showcased an exhibition of initiatives and programmes from federal and local entities. H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed reviewed legislative updates and projects produced from data and studies aimed at strengthening family stability and improving quality of life for family members.
Attendees included Abdullah bin Sultan Al Nuaimi, Minister of Justice; Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Statistics and Community Development; Sheikh Majid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Districts Affairs Department; and other senior officials and legal specialists. The Sharjah Legal Forum is intended as an ongoing platform for cross‑sector dialogue on law and social policy, with particular focus on family protection in the face of rapid change.
Source: WAM